Sight guide · Toronto · Canada
Visiting Casa Loma
Financier Sir Henry Pellatt built this Gothic Revival castle between 1911 and 1914, complete with towers, secret passages, an 800-foot tunnel to the stables and a glass-domed conservatory.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Priscilla Jordão from São Paulo, Brasil, CC BY-SA 2.0
Quick answer
Casa Loma is a castle in The Annex, Toronto. Allow 2 hours; it is mid-priced. Booking ahead is not usually needed.
Key facts
- Type
- Castle
- Area
- The Annex
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Book ahead
- Not usually needed
- Good for
- architecture, history, kids and rainy day
- Best months
- November–January
About Casa Loma
Financier Sir Henry Pellatt built this Gothic Revival castle between 1911 and 1914, complete with towers, secret passages, an 800-foot tunnel to the stables and a glass-domed conservatory. Rooms are furnished in period style, and the terraced gardens look out over the city.
Tip: Climb the towers for the view, and approach on foot up the Baldwin Steps from Spadina Avenue.
Plan your visit
- Time needed: 2 hours.
- Cost: Mid-priced.
- Book ahead: not usually needed; buy on arrival.
- Where: The Annex, victorian houses, the university and Bloor Street cafés and bars.
Best time to visit Casa Loma
Casa Loma is indoors, which makes it a good plan for the wettest months:
- January: -1°C (30°F) highs, about 12 rainy days, quiet crowds.
- December: 2°C (36°F) highs, about 12 rainy days, moderate crowds.
- November: 8°C (46°F) highs, about 11 rainy days, quiet crowds.
When to visit Toronto has the full month-by-month picture.
Fit it into your trip
Our 3-day Toronto itinerary visits Casa Loma on day 3, together with Toronto Islands and Kensington Market.
- No. 9 of the 19 sights in our Toronto things-to-do list.
- Day 3 of the 4-day plan.
- Day 3 of the 5-day plan.
- Day 7 of the 7-day plan.
- One of the picks in toronto on a rainy day.
- One of the picks in historic sites in Toronto.
- A family favourite in Toronto with kids.
Near Casa Loma
Also in The Annex, so you can walk between them:
- Bata Shoe Museum — 1–1.5 hours, low cost
If you like Casa Loma
- Ripley's Aquarium of Canada — Entertainment District, 2–3 hours
- Royal Ontario Museum — Yorkville, 3 hours
- Art Gallery of Ontario — Grange Park, 2–3 hours
- St. Lawrence Market — Old Town, 1–2 hours
Staying near Casa Loma
Stay in The Annex ($$) to walk here: victorian houses, the university and Bloor Street cafés and bars. All areas to stay in Toronto.
Questions travellers ask
+How long do you need at Casa Loma?
Plan 2 hours. With Bata Shoe Museum nearby, it fits a half-day in The Annex.
+Is Casa Loma free?
No, it is mid-priced. Tickets are usually available on the day.
+When is the best time to visit Casa Loma?
November–January, the wettest months, when an indoor sight is most welcome. Climb the towers for the view, and approach on foot up the Baldwin Steps from Spadina Avenue.
+Do I need to book Casa Loma in advance?
Usually not: you can decide on the day.
+Is Casa Loma good for kids?
Yes, it is one of our family picks in Toronto. Toronto is easy with children: the aquarium, the ROM's dinosaurs, the island ferries and Centreville amusement park, free animals in High Park and big parks make it simple to mix sights and play.